I take the boy by the hand and he starts to smile at once making sounds that are incomprehensible for me. But I know for sure that this is his joy expression because I know how Igor shows his sadness.

He is still small but he has already had to change 3 different boarding schools. And I want to believe that this is the last one for him because from here the child will get to a family: Igor has suffered and has deserved it.

I was reproved for taking Igor out of his bed because he started to cry. But I knew that 10 minutes later he would calm down and would simply sit on my lap holding my hand.

Even at times when the boy was lying in his bed for days, sometimes he suddenly started to talk. All I was able to hear and understand was “my mommy”. Probably I only heard it that way but I think I was not mistaken.

Literally within several days after having changed the boarding school, Igor has turned into an affectionate and smiling boy from a lifeless pale child. Yes, as before, he painfully responds to his being taken out of his bed. First he cries, but several minutes later he starts to smile walking around the game room in the go-cart.

Igor likes to listen to the music very much: on the telephone or musical toys. Sometimes he watches TV with pleasure.

Yes, the boy is practically not able to talk and in general he pronounces any sounds seldom. But knowing how hard he had already fought for his health and noticing how nice he is smiling when someone takes his hand I feel in him immense wish to live a long and happy life. Sometimes I notice a look in Igor’s eyes which is beyond his years – like an old man’s. And I hope that one day a mom will certainly come up to him after his words “my mommy” and at last he will become an Ordinary child…

If for some reason you are currently not able to adopt (for example, you are a student and do not have a family of your own yet) you are still able to help children at a boarding school (an orphanage with your financial support. Ways you can help include: planning and participating in excursions and trips for children; visiting a child in an orphanage; or helping purchase developmental toys, books, construction sets, and sports equipment.